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Romans 10:9 declares, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (NET). This verse emphasizes God’s desire for us to acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our lives and the God of the Old Testament.
Initially, during Paul’s time, the term Lord carried various meanings. Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, discloses that Caesar demanded a similar confession, affirming his authority over the Roman Empire (Bellum Judaicum, 7:418). Therefore, the use of the term Lord in Paul’s writings likely held significant weight. Paul intended to show his audience that Jesus surpassed the rulers of their time, notably Caesar. Back then, embracing Christianity could result in persecution or death. Thus, confessing Jesus as Lord indicated a readiness to devote one’s life to Him. In our current era, although we lack a Caesar, Jesus still reigns as Lord over every aspect of our lives. Despite the risk of persecution, believers acknowledge Jesus as their Savior, holding onto the eternal hope that conquers the fear of physical death.
Secondly, in its immediate context, the term Lord refers to the God of the Old Testament. Paul cites Joel 2:32 in Romans 10:13 to support why believers should acknowledge Jesus as Lord: “For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” In Joel 2:32, the reference is explicitly to Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament. Paul equates Jesus with the God of the Old Testament, stressing that believers should call upon Jesus just as the Old Testament people called upon God. Jesus and Yahweh are One and the same, the One who saves us all!
While Romans 10:9 may seem to imply a public confession, the essence goes beyond mere words; it requires a heartfelt belief and a life surrendered to Jesus as Lord.Session is a necessary condition for salvation, it is best interpreted as pointing to an evidence of salvation, rather than the condition itself. We are saved by grace through faith, not by means of an audible profession of faith. As always, we should let clearer passages of Scripture guide our understanding of less explicit verses. Ephesians 2:8–9 informs us that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. The immediate context of Romans 10:9 illustrates how a believer would confess his or her faith. Simply put, the confession “Jesus is Lord” aligns with James’ notion that genuine faith is demonstrated through works (James 2:14-26).
Another caution regarding Romans 10:9 pertains to decisional regeneration. Some evangelicals use this verse to support the idea that, if one “accepts” Christ or prays the sinner’s prayer, he is saved because he professes the Christian faith. However, this concept can be perilous, as it risks equating God’s divine work in the hearts of unbelievers with human decisions. Scripture teaches that salvation is the work of God, and humanity is saved by grace through faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
